Thursday, September 3, 2015

Rabbi Avraham Yehuda Jakubowicz zatzal

We are saddened to announce the passing of Rabbi Avraham Yehuda Jakubowicz (pronounced “Yakubovitch”) of Toronto, one of the most loved and respected Breslov elders.

He was 93 years old, and leaves a family of bnei Torah v'anshei maaseh.

Rabbi Jakubowicz, of blessed memory, was born in Toronto, where his parents had emigrated from Poland after World War I. As a youth, he studied at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in New York. He also had close family ties to the Modzitzer Rebbe (the Imrei Shaul), and through Modzitz he met the devout Polish Breslover chassid, Rabbi Baruch (“Beirich”) Rubinson, zatzal, one of the leading members of the post-World War II New York Breslov kehillah. He once remarked, “From the day I came close to Rebbe Nachman I have been happy!”

He also had a close relationship with the Breslover kabbalist Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz, zatzal, who penned most of the letters subsequently published in “Michtevey Shmuel” to him.

Rabbi Jakubowicz was renowned for his hachnosas orchim, and his home was open to guests of all sorts, including Gedoley Breslov such as Rabbi Elya Chaim Rosen and Reb Noson Zvi Kenig, zikhronam levrakha. He was also a co-founder of a tzedakah organization for the benefit of poor families in Eretz Yisrael.